Regulator for venetian blinds



REGULATOR FOR VENETiAN BLINDS Filed Sept. 12, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet lFIG-l INVENTOR W W- LEW/S By ma ma ATTORNEY Feb. 22, 1938. w w, w s J2,108,939

REGULATOR FOR VENETIAN BLINDS- Filed Sept. 12, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2FIG. 2A

FIG. 2

47 INVENTOR W. n'. LEW/S ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 22, 1938 PATENT OFFICE"v REGULATOR FOR VENETIAN BLIND 'William Weaver Lewis, Port Washington,N. Y.

Application September'lZ, 1936, Serial No. 100,463

'3 Claims.

This invention relates to a regulator for Ve-; netian blinds, and moreparticularly to an improved mechanism for accomplishing the tilting ofthe shutter members comprising a Venetian blind.

It is an object of the invention to provide 'a tilting device that iscompact and durable, and

capable of facile adaptation with various sizes of Venetian blindswithout disturbing the actuating assembly. 7

It is a further object of the invention to provide an enclosed mechanismin which the actuating members are protected-from foreign partiglesthereby obviating frequent cleaning operaions.

It is another object of "the invention to provide a tilting device whichincludes a sheave assembly adapted for use with various types ofactuating cords.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention contemplates a housing forenclosing a hollow worm gear mounted rotatably therein'to mesh with aworm formed on one end of a shaft which is journalled in the housing.Assembled on the opposite end of the shaft is a sheave adapted for usewith various types of actuating cords. The hollow worm gearaccommodates, coaxially and interchangeably on either side thereof, anangle member which may be secured to and removed from the tilt bar of aVenetian blind without disturbing the worm. gear arrangement assembledwithin the housing.

The invention may be more readily comprehended from the followingdescription taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view showing the vario members comprising theregulating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation illustrating a preferred method of anchoringthe cord guide;

Fig. 2-A is a fragmentary side elevation showing an alternate method ofanchoring the cord u d Fig. 3 is a view taken along the lines 3-3 ofFig, 2; and' Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating the interchang'eabilityof the angle-member attached to the tilt bar of a Venetian blind.

The same reference numerals are used to designate identical partsoccurring in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 1, a housing l0 contains the tilting mechanism andsupports one end of the tilt bar of a Venetian blind in a manner thatwill be subsequently described in detail. Formed integral with thehousing ill on one end thereof is an attaching plate provided withopenings l2 to receive screws, not shown, for attaching the housing II)to the header bar, not shown,-of' a Venetian blind.

An aperture l3 formed in the rear wall of the housing Ill provides abearing for a circular shoulder, not shown, but oppositely disposedand'similar to a shoulder l4 formed axially in the exposed face of aworm gear l5. A bearing for the shoulder I4 is supplied by an aperturel3 con-1 tained in a face-plate 2|lwhich is removably secured to thehousing 0 by an arrangement comprising a screw 2| and an anchor 22therefore disposed on an inner surface of the rear wall'of the housingHi. It is to be understood that the bearlugs for the worm gear I5 are soaligned as to permit the latter to rotate freely thereon.

The worm gear I5 is also, provided with an opening 23 having a squaredconfiguration and extending the axial length thereof. The opening 23 isdesigned for a purpose which will be more adequately explainedhereinafter.

Aligned semi-circular grooves 24, 24 formed in the opposite side wallsof the housing I0 and 25 similar grooves 25 provided on the innersurface of the face-plate'lll define, when the face-plate 20 is securedto the housing I0, oppositely disposed and circular bearing surfaces fora shaft 26. Also, the face-plate 20 on its outer surface is providedwith spaced projections, or stops l1 and I8, utilized fora purpose whichwill be more fully described hereinafter.

Intermediate bearing portions 3| and 32 on the shaft 26 'j'ou'rnalled inthe bearings described above, is formed a worm 33 which meshes with thelowermost teeth'of the-worm gear l5. Ad'- jacent to the bearingportion-3|, the shaft 26 is provided with an integral collar 34 disposedexteriorly of the housing l0 and accommodated in a sleeve 35 and anaperture 30 of a cord guide 36. The collar 34 and sleeve 35 haveparticular lengths whose purposes will be more adequately explainedhereinafter. 1

On the extreme left end of the shaft 26 is provided a reduced portion 31of substantially rec-' tangular configuration. The shaft portion 31 isreceived in similarly shaped apertures 38 and 39 formed axially in apair of circular end plates 40 and 4|, respectively. Positionedintermediate the end plates 40 and 4| are annular spacers whose numberdepends on the width of opening desired between the end plates." and 4|.The exposed end of the shaft portion 31' is expanded so that the endplates 40 and 4| are permanently afllxed Q in a spaced and non-rotatablemanner on the shaft 26.

The assembly of the end plates 40 and 4| with the spacers 45therebetween comprises a sheave 46 over which the actuating cord, notshown, is threaded. The sheave 46 is shown assembled in Figs. 2 and 4.

Each of the circular end plates 46 and 4| is peripherally flaredbeginning where the surface thereof is not in engagement with acontiguous spacer 45, as shown in Fig. 2. Each peripherally flaredportion is provided on an outer surface with a plurality of radiallydisposed ribs 41. The end plates 40 and 4| are assembled on the shaftportion 31 such that the ribs 41 on one end plate are in opposingrelation with those on the other, and, in addition, such that the ribs41 on one end plate are angularly disposed with respect to those on theother. This assembly, shown in Fig. 4, forms in the sheave 4'6 a flared,circumferential groove in which the narrowest portion lies at theperipheries of the annular spacers 45 while its widest portion lies atthe peripheries of the end plates 46 and 4!.

As a consequence, the actuating cord, not shown, is threaded inserpentine fashion on the sheave 46 so as to provide relatively largefrictional engagement therebetween. In addition,

the sheave 46 is readily adaptable for use witha ball and chain type ofcord, as well as a link chain type of cord. Further, the above designrenders the sheave 46 suitable for use with either a cord ofsubstantially smooth surface, or one having an irregular surface.Obviously, also, the tapering configuration of the circumferentialgroove in the sheave 46 extends the utility of the latter to varioustypes and sizes of actuating cords without disturbing the assembly.

The length of the collar 34 depends on the location of the sheave 46relative to the position of the housing I 6. In cases where it maybedesirable to locate the sheave 46 some distance removed from the housingill, the collar 34 and its associated sleeve 35 may be given suchlengths as suit the particular case. Accordingly, it is by this meansthat there is provided a flexibility which is both advantageous anddesirable without impairing firmness and sturdiness.

The cord guide 35 is formed witha depending rectangular 'tongue 46disposed in a similarly shaped accommodating recess 49 which is provided in the attaching plate II. This arrangement serves to anchor thecord guide 36 nonrotatably and rigidly thereby obviating movements ofthe latter when force is applied to the actuating cord in effectingactuations of the sheave 46. This method of anchoring the cord guide 36is clearlyillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

An alternate method of eflectuating the same purpose is delineated inFig. 2- A. In this arrangement, the tongue 48 is bent degrees relativeto-the vertical plane of the cord guide 36,

1 and 3. In addition, the cord guide 36 is provided, on the end oppositeto the tongue 48, with a substantially rectangular opening 55 (Fig. 1)

through which the actuating cord is passed. The position of the opening55 is such that more than "one-half of the circumferential groove of thesheave 46 is held in engagement with the actuating cord when force isapplied thereto. Obvious- 1y, thesize and configuration of the opening55 are such as permit free movements of the actuating cord therethrough.

An angle plate 56 is secured to one end of the tilt bar, not shown, byscrews, not shown, received in apertures 51 formed in the horizontalside thereof. The op site end of the tilt bar maybe supported in, anysuitable manner that allows free rotary movements imparted thereto in amanner that will be subsequently explained. The angle plate -56 issuitably adapted on its vertical side with a squared projection 56 whichis accommodated in the axial opening 23 of similar configurationprovided in the worm gear i5.

A shoulder 59 provided on the projection 56 limits 5 the extent to whichthe latter can be projected into the opening 23, and, in addition,cooperates with the stops i! and iii to limit the rotary movement of theangle-plate 56 in both clockwise and comter-clackwise directions.

Inasmuch as the opening 23 extends throughmay be interchangeably andcoaxially assembled therewith on either side of the housing to. Theopening 23 is proportioned such that the top slat may be brought upflush with the under surface of the tilt bar throughout the entirelength thereof. This is not accomplished in present commercial types oftilting devices since the latter are of such structure as prevent oneend of the top slat from being brought up flush with the tilt bar. ispermissible without disturbing the gearing arrangement supported by thehousing III. In Figs. 3 and 4, the full lines indicate the angle-plate56 It is obvious, of course, that such use inserted in the right-handside of the housing inclination of the shutter members comprising theVenetian blind is always identical with that of the tilt bar since thelatter controls the positions of the shutter members in the well-knownmanner. I

In operation, let it be assumed that the horizontal portion of. theangle-plate 56 attached to the tilt bar lies in a horizontal plane whenlooking into the angle-plate 56, shown in'Figs.

1 and. 3. Accordingly, the tilt bar and. shutter members lie inthe sameplane. Then, when a user pulls the cord to actuate the sheave 46 in aclockwise direction (Fig. 3), the worm 33 on shaft 26 moves the wormgearl5 in a counterclockwise direction. The angle bracket 56, beingfixedly disposed in the worm gear I5, is likewise moved in the samedirection therewith. Obviously, this motion is also imparted to the tiltbar and shutter members all of which are turned in a correspondingdirection. The amount of tilting movement of the angle-plate 56 in acounterclockwise direction will be limited by the engagement between theshoulder 59 and the stop l8. I

'When a user pulls the cord to actuate the sheave 4B inacounter-clockwise direction, the worm I5 is moved in a clockwisedirection to carry the angle-plate 56 therewith in the same direction.Obviously, a corresponding movement is imparted to the tilt bar andshutter members. The amount of tilting movement of the angleplate 56 ina clockwise direction will be limited by the engagement between theshoulder 59 and the stop I1.

when the angle-plate rear wall of the housing worm gear arrangement, inthe same direction in actuated by the user. that the particular 56 ispositioned in the ill, the former, due to will be caused to move whichthe sheave 46 is It is to be understood direction of movement impartedto the angle-plate 55 depends merely on whether the latter is assembledon the righthand or left-hand side of the housing Ill, as shown in Fig.4

It is obvious, of course, that in cases where it -is most expedient toplace no limit on the rotary movements of the angle-plate 5B, the stopsl1 and I8 may be omitted.

Further, it will be understood that stops I1 and I8 are also provided onthe wall of the housing 10 opposite to the face-plate 20 so as toefiectengagements with the shoulder 59 to limit rotary movements of theangle-plate 56 in the manner described above.

While the aforedescribed apparatus is capable of modification by those slied in the art, it is understood that it is'to be limited only by thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tilting mechanism for a Venetian blind including a tilt bar anda header bar, the combination comprising a housing attachable to theheader bar, the housing having securing means.

and a compartment, means attachable to tilt bar, a projection of aconfiguration other than circular provided on the attachable means,means including a tilt bar and a header bination comprising a housingattachable to the 4 -vided on the attachable,means,

rotatably mounted in the compartment and arranged to receive theprojection so that the attachable means can be mounted interchangeablyon either side of the housing, and means having a portion rotatablymounted in the compartment in engagement with the rotatable means andanother portion projecting eizternally of the compartment to support apulley.

2. In a tilting mechanism for a Venetian blind bar, the comheader bar,the housing comprising fastening means and a compartment, meansattachable to the tilt bar, a projection of a configuration other thancircular provided on the attachable means, means rotatably mounted inthe compartmentand having a portion shaped in each of two opposite sidesthereof to receive the projection so that the attachable means can bemounted interchangeably on opposite sides of the having a portionrotatably mounted in the compartment in engagement with the rotatablemeans and another portion projecting externally of the compartment tosupport a pulley.

3. In a tilting mechanism for a Venetian blind including a tilt bar anda header bar, the combination comprising a housing attachable to theheader bar, the housing having fastening means,

a compartment and apertures associated with the compartment in alignedpairs, means attachable to the tilt bar, a rectangular projection proagear in the compartment and having journals rotatable in the aperturesof one aligned pair, at least one of the journals being formed with arectangular opening to receive the projection, a worm shaft having oneend extending through the compartment for rotation in the apertures ofanother aligned pair'and the opposite end projecting exteriorly of thecompartment to support a pulley, and a worm fixed on the end of theshaft within the compartrrientto mesh with the gear.

